Replacing members in containers



Jan. 3, 1928.

J. F. WAIT REPLACING MEMBERS IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan.l'7. 1925 BY WWQRNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1928. I l i UNITED STATES NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR'TO NATIONAL ANILINE & CHEMICAL (10., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. s

JUs'rmr. WAIT, or

, 1, 54,953 PATENT OFFICE.

.BEPIiACING MEMBERS IN CONTAINERS.

Application filed January This invention relates to provision for so equipping a metallic container'that appara- (us can be inserted therein and withdrawn very readily and at the same time the opening through which the apparatus is withdrawn can be closed with an air tight joint without danger of permitting the-same to leak inadvertently. It relates more particularly to constructing a metal container m such as a still so as to have a protrusion, protuberance or extension through which a pipe may extend'and to whichthe pipe can be permanently connected as by welding, and at the same time the protuberance has suflicientv area to permit withdrawing there through a group or coil of pipes to which the pipe welded to the protuberance is connected. I 1 V Devices of this character have heretofore been so arranged that a gasket was required .at the place where the pipe entered the containerwhich gasket was apt to, leak or need replacement. By the present invention all gaskets that would be apt to give excestight joint is made, while at the'sametime an opening may be made and closed in-a satisfactory'mannen v Y The invention 'will be understood in connection with the description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig.1 is a sectional view partly broken away showing the wall'of a container; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification of the invention.

dicates the side of a metal container that is provided with an opening 2 of sufiicient size to permitthe insertion therethrough' ofthe desired member -such'as a coil or pipeor a group of pipes, etc. A protrusion, protuberance or extension 3 projects from the wall of the container ,1. This protrusion 3 as well as the opening 2 should be shaped in accordance with the shape of the member or other apparatus that is to be passed therethrough. It may be of rectangular or circular or any other desired, shape. I This pro trusion 3 is provided with a cover plate 4 which may be welded thereto or made integral therewith. A second protuberance 5 extends outwardly from the plate 4 with its sides preferably parallel to the sides, of the protrusion 3. It may be of the same shape or it may differ in shape from theprotrus'ion sive trouble are dispensed with and an 'airing.

In the drawings reference character 1 in- 17, 1925. Serial'li'o. 3,203.

still or the like, the heating medium being introducedthrough this and being discharged by the other .pipe. 7 In the modification shown. in Fig. 2, the container 10 is, provided witha plurality of protrusions '11 through which members such as heating fingers 12, for example, may extend and to whichtliey may be welded as shown at 13. V i v r During thenormal operation of a con tainer used asa reaction vessel or still, it

is frequently" necessary to inspect, repair or even replaceme'mbers inserted therein, as for example, heating coils. 'This is of considerable importancewhere corrosive liquids are used andwhere the coil is made up of a number off parts including welded joints which havefbeen found to be more easily corrodedthan the other portions of the coils and consequently need more frequent repair- WVhen the inspection or repair is to be made, the protrusion 3 is cut, as for example, by means of an acetylene cutting torch so that the outer portion containing plate 4 may be removed from the stub of the still connected withthe container 1. The coil 8 is then withdrawn through the opening 2 and inspection, repairs or replacement made. The surfaces of the severed member and the corresponding surface of" thestub of the protrusion are then dressed as by means of a pneumatic chisel so that when the coil' is reinstalled and the protrusionrealigned, a firm weld may be made thus reconnecting the parts of'the protrusion and thus completing the reinstallation of the member; the pipe connection 6 is to be removed from the cover plate 4 ,the protrusion 5 is cut in somewhatfsimilar -manner and the new member inserted and welded in place.

A numbe'r'of removals and replacements may be made with the same protrusion by cutting over the same circumferential element but it is usually more desirable to sever the protrusion at different points so that :Eresli metallic surface is available for re- Welding. The location of this element along which the welding joint is made should preferably be at an appreciable distance from the container surface 1 thus preventing the intersection of the protrusion 3 with the surface '1 from becoming excessively heated,

it being preferable that all of the heating and other stresses occurring in the replacement should take place within the protrusion 3 and none in the container 1.

After an appreciable number of replace ments have been made it may be desirable to discard portions of the protrusion 3 and'to replace them by means of fresh metal of the original shape which is then welded close to the container 1, subsequent severing being done at a more remote distance therefrom.

Oneof the objects ofcutting and reweld ing the protrusion? at a distance remote from the container 1 is to prevent the surfaces of the container close to the protrusion connection from becoming heated to a high temperature such that on cooling they will develop high internal stresses or possibly cause rupture of the metal. By heating parts which are free to -expand, to a welding temperature, the development of stresses at dangerous places is decreased or overcome and a firm weld can be made. 1

This method of Welding-and replacing heating coils and other members in a container such as a reaction vessel or still is of great value in retaining materials which may be poisonous or inflammable or which would endanger lives or property ifjthey were allowed to leak from the vessel. It further prevents mechanical losses by leakage thus effecting a saving in the yield, and at the same time repair of necessary parts is made possible. It has been found that with a method of installing and replacing members such as has been described, the original installation cost and the cost of replacement is approximately the same as that of a gasketed type of construction.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a metallic container, a metallic member extending into said container, a protrusion on said container through which said member extends, said protrusion extending a suh'icient distance to enable the same to be conveniently severed and Welded without heating said container to a welding temperature.

2.- In an apparatus of the class described,

a metallic container, a metallic member eX- tending into said container, a protrusion on said container through which said member extends, said protrusion extending outwardly a sufficient distance to enable it to be out and welded without causing an appreciable expansion and contraction of said container.

3. In an apparatusof the class described, a metallic container, a metallic member extending into said container, a protrusion'on said container through which said member extends, said protrusion comprising a plurality of portions having walls substantially parallel to said member and a portion substantially perpendicular to said member, said protrusion extending a 'sufiicient dis tance to enable the same to be conveniently severed and welded without heating said container to a welding temperature.

4. In an apparatus of'the' class described, a metallic containeiy a metallic member extending into said container, a protrusion on said'container, a protrusion on said first named protrusion through which said member extends, and means for making an air tight connection between said memberand said protrusion, said means including a welded joint. a

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a metallic container, a group ot pipes in said container, a protrusion on said container of suflicient size to enablesaid group o't'pipes to pass therethrough, a cover'plate'for said protrusion, a. pr'otrusi'onon said cover plate through which a pipeextends and connects with said group of pipes, and an air-tight welded connection between said container and pipe. i i 6. In an apparatus of the class described, a metallic container, a group of pipes in said container, a protrusionon said container of sufficient size to enable said group of pipes to pass therethrough, a cover plate tor'said .protrus1on,'a protrusionon sa d cover plate through which. a pipe extends, the latter being connected with said group of pipes, the walls of said protrusions being .substantially parallel to the walls of said last named pipe, and an air-tight welded con nection between said container and pipe.

7. In an apparatus ofthej class described, a metallic container, a group of pipes in said container, a protrusion on said container of sufficient size to enable said group of pipes to pass therethrough, a cover plate for said protrusion, a protrusion on said coverplate through which a, pipe extendsfthe latter being connected with said group o'l" pipes, the walls of said protrusions beingisubstantially perpendiculartothe adjacent wall of said container. and an air-tight welded connection between said container and pipe.

In testimony wliereofI afiix my signature.

JUSTIN F. .WAIT.

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